26 March 2012

All my comments have been eaten by Disqus when there was frequent switch between domain and blogspot url link (from blogspot to curryegg.com, from curryegg.com to blogspot).

I wish to spend some of the times fixing errors on my blog. However, the Diploma in Education assignments, school work, paper work, lesson planning and curriculum activities are driving me crazy.

I hope to blog more often but I can’t. Every time when I decided to face the laptop screen to type my assignment, my brain became empty and slowly I saw double (and sometimes triple!) of the images. My shoulders are aching and my face is attack by pimples *sigh*.

I want to maintain (at least) my passion in teaching but then, I am not sure how far these physical and mental exhaustion will lower it down. Well, I will try my best to complete my assignment by this midnight (till morning) and let see how far I can do.

P/s: I am an active player of ‘Draw Something’ at facebook lately. It is a result of the tiredness and low confident in answering the Take Home Exam. It is my way to keep me awake but ended up wasting time =.=

08 March 2012

I was very nervous because the first school formative exam fall on the 7th of March and my Maths paper was on the day. The feeling was like allowing your child to ride on the bicycle for the very first time. You will worry whether will they fall? And if they fall, what should you do? Should you pull them up? Or let them to stand up on their feet by themselves? What if they hate riding a bike after the fall and never wanting to try again? And what should you do if they are too good in it and requested to ride a motorbike instead?

There were so many ‘what-if’ questions the night before 7.3.2012 and I ended up not knowing what to do, except praying to God for whatever He think is the best for all these children and me.

The very next morning, I was inspired to make posters for my 3 Maths class students (I still have this spontaneous ability which have pros and cons.. =.=). Initially, I didn’t know what to write to my students. Should I write as a message from the teacher (me) or should I write on behalf of them? After taking nearly half an hour sitting in front of my teacher’s table, I saw my hand with a black marker pen in it started writing animatedly. Teachers who passed by my table which was located at the back of the staff room were curiously and came near me.

One of the teacher surprisingly asked, “Tan, are you going to teach later?”

I smiled, looked at her and replied, “No lar. Just writing a few words for the students”.

“Wow… You know, you don’t have to do such things to them. I’m afraid they wouldn’t appreciate your effort”, she replied and left after I returned her with a smile.

She could be right and wrong but that is not my main concern. So, these are my posters for each class. 1Sp2 is the best class, 1SP3 is the better class and 1SP4 is the good class – in term of Maths performances.

I don’t know how much my students appreciate and understood the message from my motivational posters. I don’t know even if these posters work. What I actually want most is to show my moral support and motivate all of them who have been working hard throughout the 3 months to give their best in the 1 hour with 38 questions paper. To those who didn’t even do and turn in my homework, these posters will remind them to work harder after this because there is a Maths teacher who care for them all the time *fingers crossed*

Did you spot my infamous dinning room clock? >.<

I pasted 1 poster in each classes on the whiteboard and made them read aloud together with me before the exam begin. I even placed my emm… house’s clock in front of the classroom with the hope that they can keep track on their time because to answer Maths questions, one really needs good time management.

Hahaha… I STOLE CLOCKS from MY HOUSE, could you believe it? =P

So, the exam begun at the dot of 5.40pm and the corridor were full of bags, books and surrounded with the sound of the winds. I had never seen the school in such a quite state when more than 600+ students were in the buildings.

I adore seeing my students in such a serious mode. I could see they were trying their best and attempted each questions quite well.

While waiting nervously for the time passes, I walked along the corridor and snapped a few photos:

The school has the best sunset scenery

In the end of the exam, I have students who came and told me how easy-peasy the paper was. Next, I have students who told me they knew the answers and I even have students who frankly told me, “Susah lah cikgu! I sure failed one. Matilah ku”.

The student in brown and yellow shirt (on the most right) was smiling because he told me that he could answer the paper.. I hope he is right =)

That is how my first experience as teacher, seeing my students fought in the battlefield. Also, it is my first time being scolded by my mum for stealing all the clocks from home. Lolx…

P/s: Ranjeetha (one of the 50 Teach For Malaysia Fellows) found the idea of pasting a poster to each class is a good idea to motivate students and she might do it tomorrow. Let’s pray for a good effect for these children =)

06 March 2012

I guess, lately I am more adjusted with my new teaching life. Or should I say, I am learning to be less stressful towards my new job? There are still a ton of things which need to be worked on but I also realized that my inner child wants to be nurtured. Therefore, photography came into the picture.

Just last Saturday, Calv and I visited Steve and his family to celebrate their new born. I brought my DSLR along, hoping that I will get a chance to get help from the-sifu (Steve is an expert). I am still a very new DSLR owner. Thus, there are still a lot more to be learned from all the experts =)

I was pretty shy at first to bring out my new toy because I didn’t feel it was a good time to disturb the hosts of the event. However, I was wrong when Calv managed to find a right time and broke my shy-ness away. I couldn’t tell why but I am a pretty shy person.

Anyway, I managed to get Steve’s help with the DSLR setting and have her cute daughter as my model after that. She is seriously cute and adorable!

I love the bokah effect.

Two cute ponny tails.

The best cheeky smile of Ellane =D

Ellane and her dad’s DSLR.

Mummy was dressing Ellane up.

I like my first photo album collection so far. What do you think?

One of the reasons that I like the most is the ability to snap some of the very precious moments – especially on Ellane’s facial expression because she moved so fast and my camera barely focused on her!

Photography is a real fun and therapeutic activity for me. I would love to do as much as I can in the near future. I wonder, can I snap my students when they are having their first formative exam tomorrow? =P

About Me

Simplicity is what I'm searching for while adventuring my life to explore and discover. Each discovery will teach me a meaningful lesson that will help me grow. I write to learn more about myself. Currently, I am full time teacher for another 1.5 years and a fellow of Teach For Malaysia.